Greetings Troopers! A slightly smaller news update this week, just to keep you all updated with news of the campaign. This second round was delayed a little due to the holidays and that reflected in the number of players, barely managing to scrape above eight. Perhaps this is what saw a swing in the results, with Rebels almost taking a clean sweep.

A slightly smaller news update this week, just to keep you all updated with news of the campaign.

This second round was delayed a little due to the holidays and that reflected in the number of players, barely managing to scrape above eight. Perhaps this is what saw a swing in the results, with Rebels almost taking a clean sweep.

ROUND 1: TATOOINE MOS ESPA

Mos Espa was played first, a firm fan favourite this also makes it a very difficult map to gain an advantage, since so many of our vets know each and every alley. Due to the low player numbers the rebels were at a numbers disadvantage, FSDev Twigs who is co-ordinating the campaign has retained the right to play on either team where this occurs. This week then saw him take the rebels side making it slightly more balanced at 5 to 4 in the Empire's favour. The Alliance troopers made quick work of the Empire's advance, quickly forcing them back before taking the final flag.

ROUND 2: BATTLE OF RYLOTH

On to Ryloth, a rarely played map these days due to it's imposing size. The 16 player map does make an interesting challenge for the Imperials though, being forced to try and drive a squadron of Firehawke tanks into the Rebels defensive position. Once again the Alliance held up against the team to take another victory.

ROUND 3: BATTLE OF TALORAAN

Finally, Taloraan, an all out slugfest in space. The idea here is to destroy the opposition's capital ships before you lose your own, and as simple as it sounds there are a lot of tactics here. Lose your freighter and you lose the ability to repair both capital and fighter craft, and also to rearm your fighters with torpedoes.

With their more heavily armed fighters the Rebels chose to try and buzz the Imperials for as long as possible without exposing their own assets. Forced in to making a run towards the Alliance, the Imperial flotilla quickly broke apart leaving that all important freighter exposed and allowing a multitude of warheads to smash against its hull. As they closed towards the Rebel position, a few of the Alliance pilots swapped in to their CR-90 Corvette and manoeuvred it over the freighter to grant precious cover from any onslaught the Imperials could bear down on it. As they Empire's flotilla drew within striking distance, the Corvette's turbolaser batteries opened up, quickly raking into the enemy freighter and tearing through its hull. A distant blast signaled the end of the ship and the rebels turned their attention to the approaching Imperial Lancer. Already sensing a third decisive victory, they powered up the engines and moved forward to engage the enemy one on one. Sadly, this also signaled the end of the Rebels presence in the Taloraan system. Eager to engage what they decided was a weakened enemy, they had forgotten their proximity to their own Gallofree freighter. As they powered up the engines and turned towards the remnants of the Imperial Navy, the CR-90's hull impacted on the Gallo's hull, instantly causing a chain reaction in both ships engines that sent a shockwave racing through the planetary system. The Empire was able to recover its forces and count this as a lucky victory.

Final scores for this second round saw Rebels take 25 points and Imperials 17 due to a couple of unregistered players knocking their tally down. Overall, this means the Rebels have now closed the gap with 37 1/2 points while Imperials clutch to the lead with 46.

Strangely, the results system of this campaign mean that the third round will be played on:

Ryloth

Lok

Bandomeer

We have also been asked by players to start at the slightly earlier time of 2000 GMT, this will take place as of round three, starting 13th January.

I think that the real problem is that very few people are interested in multiplayer game based on future. Moreover we have seen the result of BF2142 deserted by the BF community. People are focused on modern warfare like bf2, bf3, COD or even mods like PR or Insurgency. So in this case there is no more people to play mods like FS. In its time, Galactic Conquest (BF1942 mod in Star Wars universe) was more populated than First Strike but was crushed by Desert Combat & Forgotten Hope in term of population. I think in addition that people interested in spatial vessel and other prefer to play X3, EVE Online and other space opera games instead of playing FPS. Planetside is an exception I guess.

BF2142 gave us some issues, especially when they did their final release which had multiple versions, but now I guess it is more the age of the game which is hurting us. Though obviously the length of time since our last release doesn't help. We'll hopefully rectify that soon.